Gloucester 2014/15 Thread

[HongKongCherry]

First topic message reminder :

After an encouraging finish to the season finishing 5th in the 2012/13 we move into the 2014/15 full of confidence that we can build upon those results... Everything in between those dates remains a blur and will never be mentioned again!

This thread is welcome to all to discuss Glaws for the 2014/15 season.

Fixtures:
Sat 16 Aug Glaws 62 v  19 Yorkshire Carnegie
Sat 23 Aug Glaws 45 v 8 Munster
Sat 30 Aug Scarlets 29 v 24 Glaws


Fri 5 Sep Saints 53 v 6 Glaws
Sat 13 Sep Glaws 34 v 27 Sale
Fri 19 Sep Glaws 22 v  25 Exeter
Fri 26 Sep London Welsh 10 v 46 Glaws
Sat 4 Oct Glaws 33 v 16 Tigers
Thur 16 Oct Glaws 55 v 0 Brive ERCC
Sat 25 Oct Oyonnax 15 v 25 Glaws ERCC
Sat 1 Nov Exeter v Glaws LV
Sun 9 Nov London Welsh v Glaws LV
Sat 11 Oct Saracens 28 v 21 Glaws
Sat 15 Nov Glaws 15 v 22 Quins
Fri 21 Nov Newcastle 20 v 10 Glaws
Sat 29 Nov London Irish 9 v 21 Glaws
Thur 4 Dec Glaws 35 v 10 Zebre ERCC
Thur 11 Dec Zebre 16 v 32 Glaws ERCC
Sat 20 Dec Glaws 16 v 39 Bath
Sat 27 Dec Glaws 23 v 30 Wasps
Sat 3 Jan Exeter 25 v 26 Glaws
Sat 10 Jan Glaws 24 v 23 Saracens
Thur 15 Jan Glaws v Oyonnax ERCC
Thur 22 Jan Brive v Glaws ERCC
Sat 31 Jan Glaws v Ospreys LV
Sat 7 Feb Glaws v Quins LV
Sat 14 Feb Tigers v Glaws
Sat 21 Feb Glaws v London Welsh
Sun 1 Mar Wasps v Glaws
Sat 7 Mar Glaws v Saints
Sat 28 Mar Sale v Glaws
Sat 11 Apr Quins v Glaws
Sat 25 Apr Glaws v Newcastle
Sat 9 May Glaws v London Irish
Sat 16 May Bath Rugby v Glaws

Transfers In:
Halaifonua (Bergerac), Tom Marshall (Chiefs), Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes)

Transfers Out:
Simpson-Daniel (retired), Isaacs (Cardiff), Robson (Wasps - 2015/16)

Contract Re-signings:
May, Kvesic, Moriarty, Evans, Morgan

Squad:
LH: Wood, Y.Thomas, Murphy
HK: Hibbard, Dawiduik, Charles (Academy), Lutui
TH: Afoa, Knight, Puafisi, Gibbons (Academy)
LK: Stooke, Hudson, Galarza, Palmer, Hicks (Academy), Hill (Academy), Voss (Academy)
BR: Kalamafoni, Savage, Moriarty, Kvesic, Rowan, Ludlow (Academy), Morgan, Evans, Thomas (Academy)
SH: Laidlaw, Robson, Braley (Academy)
FH: Hook, A.Thomas, Burns, Evans (Academy)
CN: Twelevtrees, Trinder, Atkinson, Meakes (Academy), Thorley (Academy)
WG: Sharples, May, Monahan, Reynolds (Academy), Purdy (Academy), Halaifonua
FB: Cook, McColl

[HongKongCherry]

Based purely on the Sarries game we're improving as Woody has gone from a red to a yellow!

I'm not sure the exact stats, but what is noticeable is that we've really reduced the number of silly penalties, but we haven't eradicated them yet. The Chiefs game was littered with stupid penalties and Steenson really punished us. Woody's yellow was pretty dumb as there was no need for it, so still plenty of work to be done, however, we're unrecognisable from last season's drivel.

[gregortree]

Atkinson impressed when he came on vs Welsh.
Maybe the opposition flattered him, but he is one to watch.
Purdy was brilliant in the summeer 7s, but 15 a side is a transition for him.

[HongKongCherry]

Atkinson does have a pretty decent off loading game and it is such a shame that try was butchered against Tigers as his pass deserved the bonus point. Did you watch the pre-season game v Yorkshire? He was making off loads for fun! Given he started life as a fly half I've not seen anything of him to suggest he could be a 1st receiver, but it is great to finally have a back up 12 rather than a 13 who can play there as we've had in recent years.

[HongKongCherry]

So its clear we're taking the Challenge Cup seriously! I would have perhaps like one or two more changes just to rest players, but I am still more than happy with this side and based upon the team that Brive are putting out anything less than a resounding victory would be disappointing.

Glaws
Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Billy Meakes, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jonny May; James Hook, Greig Laidlaw; Yann Thomas, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, James Hudson; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan

Replacements:
Darren Dawidiuk, Nick Wood, Sila Puafisi, Elliott Stooke, Ross Moriarty, Dan Robson, Billy Burns, Mark Atkinson

Brive
Mafi, Radikedike, Delage, Sanchou, Namy, Swanepoel, Bezy; Asieshvili, Acosta, Jourdain, Marais, Boukerou, Briatte, Luafutu (c), Murphy

[maestegmafia]

Interesting game tonight....!

[glamorganalun]

The passing by both scrum halves needs a lot to be desired and the turn overs not great

[glamorganalun]

Good start and a clear win Brive have thrwn the towel in.

[The Saint]

First Glaws game I've seen this season, and they didn't play particularly well but won very convincingly. Also, it looks to me as if Laidlaw and Twelvetrees are the ones controlling the game for the most part, so that dispels the Hook hype for me yet again.

[EnglishReign]

I'll take the 55-0

[The Saint]

Was it a weaker Brive side than usual? They seemed to just fall apart in the 2nd half.

[EnglishReign]

Was it a weaker Brive side than usual? They seemed to just fall apart in the 2nd half.

Yeah, they rested some players I think. We went all out to keep the momentum going - give the players more time to gel.

[glamorganalun]

First Glaws game I've seen this season, and they didn't play particularly well but won very convincingly. Also, it looks to me as if Laidlaw and Twelvetrees are the ones controlling the game for the most part, so that dispels the Hook hype for me yet again.

I thought 12 trees and Laidlaw were poor the first droping the ball and spilling the ball in contact and Laidlaw giving slow ball to his 10 often on the bounce,may be the wet conditions? Hook looked OK considering the service he had, the replacement scrum half was worse he had a quicker service but it was all over the place.

[HongKongCherry]

Maybe I'm use to a poor standard of scrum half, but I thought Laidlaw was excellent and controlled the game well. His box kicks were superb, both for touch finding and gaining enough height to allow for a proper kick chase. Some of his passes were slow, but by in large I thought much of his service was exactly what was needed. Added to that his goal kicking is just fabulous. In his first game he missed a number of kicks and a proportion of our fans thought we'd signed another over-hyped world class Scottish kicker! Patterson's misses against Munster still haunt Kingsholm! But since then Laidlaw has nailed a number of touchline goals and is proving to be an excellent acquisition. I'd expected for him to be the least effective of our big name signings, however, at the moment I'd say he's on a par with Afoa.

[LordDowlais]

Well I thought Gloucester were quite good last night, although Ben Morgan could learn a few things from Hibbard, he's a big boy, dont run sideways, run at em !!!!!!!! Is it me being Welsh, or was Hibbard absolutley everywhere ? It must be his girly blond hair, becuase I just kept noticing him at every contest, and he was smashing players left right and center, has he been like this all season ?

[Sam]

Was it a weaker Brive side than usual? They seemed to just fall apart in the 2nd half.

Yeah, they rested some players I think. We went all out to keep the momentum going - give the players more time to gel.

Think there was something like 13 changes to the Brive side that played last time out, compared to the 3 changes Gloucester made.

Good result, but think Brive are focusing on not getting relegated from the Top 14.

[HongKongCherry]

Absolutely Sam, this result needs to be taken with a hefty pinch of salt as it was a scratch Brive side who were pretty poor. Sharples' 2nd and 3rd tries were defending of the highest ineptitude!

Lord, Hibbard had a great game and was as effective in the tackle as he was carrying. He had his best game at the lineout for us by a country mile.

[Geordie]

HK....he's Welsh, of course LD picked him out...

[LordDowlais]

HK....he's Welsh, of course LD picked him out...

He is hard to miss with that fat gay hairdresser haircut he has got.

[HongKongCherry]

Great news that Kvesic has re-signed given his excellent form this year. Its tinged with the news he's set to miss out on the EPS, which given his form is very strange.

Nevertheless, it looks like we'll have a strong side over the AIs with Hook missing from Wales and 36 set to be dropped too, so we'll be without Kalamafoni for Tonga, Morgan, Laidlaw and probably May. With K and Morgan out it is perfect time for Gareth Evans to return; he was involved in the full contact training with Bristol yesterday, so hopefully he'll return for the LV games. So for the Quins game I'd expect to see the following:
Wood
Dawiduik
Afoa
Stooke
Palmer
Savage
Kvesic
Evans
Robson
Hook
Monahan
36
Purdy
Sharples
Cook

[gregortree]

Lordy
Agreed Hibbard is looking better, esp around the field. Plus his stand-out Barnet.

First 2 games at Kingsholm he kept trying to throw long to the tail and like as not inaccurately giving the oppos.
He seems to throw more to mid jumpers since and has reduced the long throw risks.
Just my impression, but a great addition to the club. The Shed seem to love him so what more can I say ?

[HongKongCherry]

so 36 is in the EPS after all, so Atkinson to take his place, which going on his performances so far he's not a bad replacement

[gregortree]

And Jonny May.
Atkinson is looking good.
Bit surpised (not Glaws) that Cipriani is not in the EPS. Ford & Myler got places instead.

[Exiledinborders]

so 36 is in the EPS after all, so Atkinson to take his place, which going on his performances so far he's not a bad replacement

36 might well be available as Lancaster tends to release players back to clubs once team is picked.

[LondonTiger]

Gloucester interested in signing Ben Spencer apparently. Cannot see it happening as the reason he will probably leave Sarries is because they re-signed de Kock, so his game time will be limited. with Laidlaw and Robson at Kingsholm also tough for him there.

[formerly known as Sam]

How long will de Kock keep going for though? He and Wigglesworth are both into their 30s now and although Sarries signed up Taylor the under 20s scrum half from Loughborough in the summer they could do with bringing Spencer along as part of succession planning.

How's Braely doing for you boys after his move from Bristol?

[HongKongCherry]

I'd imagine the speculation regarding Spencer is because Dan Robson's contract expires this season. It wouldn't make sense to sign Spencer if Robson re-signs, which I sincerely hope he does. He has pushed himself ahead of Rory Lawson and Jimmy Cowan, although he does appear to have finally met his match in Laidlaw. Nevertheless, he is a very different player to Laidlaw and injects real pace to a match. He will get plenty of game time over the AIs and 6N, so I can't see him having the need to go elsewhere...

Braley has looked good, however, he has only featured in friendlies and A league games so far. I fully expect him to be involved with the forthcoming LV games. He appears to be a fiesty little player, which is no bad thing for a 9.

[HongKongCherry]

4th year on the trot we've turned a profit. The powers at be should feel justly proud at such an achievement and as a result we've confirmed we'll be able to spend up to the full cap next year along with bringing in another marquee player. It all bodes well for the future

[LondonTiger]

Robson off to Bath apparently.

[George Carlin]

I'd imagine the speculation regarding Spencer is because Dan Robson's contract expires this season.  It wouldn't make sense to sign Spencer if Robson re-signs, which I sincerely hope he does.  He has pushed himself ahead of Rory Lawson and Jimmy Cowan, although he does appear to have finally met his match in Laidlaw.  Nevertheless, he is a very different player to Laidlaw and injects real pace to a match.  He will get plenty of game time over the AIs and 6N, so I can't see him having the need to go elsewhere...

Thought Robson looked good when he played for the Saxons against Scotland. It's always going to be tough when you're chasing the shirt of the team's main goalkicker though. We have the same problem with Scotland - Cusiter is almost certainly the better player, but doesn't kick for goal at 85%+.

[Bathite]

Robson off to Bath apparently.

Where has this come from? I know our Genia deal is now off and Stringer is retiring, so we have a slot, but other than that, i've heard nothing about Robson joining

[gregortree]

I'm a huge Robson fan, much keener and sharper than Cowon, although Cowon was in his winding down years at Gloucester, and Dan is the young Tyro. Sincerely hope he re-signs.
Plus I want to see this Gloucester thread back at the top of 606v2 postings.

[HongKongCherry]

I had genuinely expected Robson to be 1st choice this season, however Laidlaw has been excellent and Robson, bar the London Welah game, has been a bit hit and miss. I would still be very disappointed to see him leave, but he has finally met his match in Laidlaw. Nevertheless he won't join the enemy, I know that for a fact just like I knew Attwood wouldn't leave

[HongKongCherry]

Isaacs has left with immediate effect after making little impact. I do feel for him as he is a definite victim of the fall out with Nigel Davies, as it was clear Fisher didn't rate him. I'd hope we have a replacement in the wings as we're pretty short in the centre at the moment.

We're definitely struggling at the moment with availability, if you look at the team that started the 2nd half of the Falcons game versus those not available, arguably the unavailable side is the stronger and the backline is without doubt far better.

Thomas, Dawiduik, Afoa, Palmer, Hudson, Savage, Kvesic, Moriarty, Braley, Burns, Purdy, Atkinson, Meakes, Isaacs, McColl

Vs

Wood, Hibbard, Puafisi, Stooke, Galarza, Kalamafoni, Rowan, Morgan, Laidlaw, Hook, May, 36, Trinder, Sharples, Cook


Hang on, I've just realised I'm sounding like a Tigers supporter!

[Ozzy3213]

What sort of side do you reckon you'll be sending out against us this week HKC?

[HongKongCherry]

We've got a few of our internationals back and it sounds like the concussed trio of Sharples, Robson and Purdy will be back in contention, I'd expect/hope to see the following:
Wood, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Palmer, Moriarty, Kvesic, Kalamafoni, Laidlaw, Hook, Purdy, Atkinson, Meakes, Sharples, McColl with replacements of Lutui, Y.Thomas, Puafisi, Stooke, Evans, Robson, A. Thomas & whoever is left standing!

It's not been a happy hunting ground for us at your place, although I think we've won the last 2 games there, nevertheless, on recent performances I'm not hopeful.

[aucklandlaurie]

Something I didnt know. John Afoa is the highest paid club rugby player in England. hope he performs to that level.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11366458

[HongKongCherry]

Apparently we've signed Tom Marshall from the Chiefs to join us after the next Super 15 tournament hhttp://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/63631416/Cut-Mako-to-try-his-luck-in-Perth He'd be a decent signing if true. We desperately need strength and competition for Trinder at 13 and whilst Marshall is a versatile player, I can only presume he'd be targeted as a 13. Although it would be good to have the ability to play him on the wing and at FB as and when required,

We just need a monster LH and a strong hooker to back up Hibbard now...

[HongKongCherry]

Something I didnt know. John Afoa is the highest paid club rugby player in England. hope he performs to that level.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11366458

Is he the best player in England as his salary would suggest? No. Is he shoring up a powder puff scrum and ensuring we have a platform to play off? Yes. Personally, I feel he's worth every penny.

[HongKongCherry]

Well that moved quickly! Tom Marshall is confirmed for next season! Great signing and will add much needed strength to the backs.

http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/10786.php#.VH13v9KsVy5

[stub]

Congrats Gloucester for today's win.

[HongKongCherry]

Congrats Gloucester for today's win.

Thanks stub

It was a disappointing performance and I thought our backs looked very disjointed. I'm a big fan of 36, but I thought he showed his lack of confidence and was terribly indecisive at times and I really wouldn't be surprised if he is "rested" for the next game. Nevertheless, you can't sniff at 5 points.

On a far more positive note, what a wonderful reception Marco Bortolami received. He is rightly remembered as one of our greats.

[George Carlin]

Cherry - delighted to see young Stuart McColl getting some game time.

Do Gloucester fans rate him? And how to you think he's doing?

[HongKongCherry]

He is doing well so far and should get an extended run in the team with Rob Cook out for a month or two. There is a thread on a Gloucester forum specifically asking whether Cook would get back in based upon McColl's present form which is causing much debate. He scored a good try against Zebre, although he also butchered one when he could have set Sharples free. We've not seen his siege cannon boot yet, but I am pleased with his game so far and the progress he has made and we clearly now have good competition at FB.

[George Carlin]

Good to hear. I foresee a Scotland A cap this year if he keeps kicking on.

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